Electric ignition device



Aug. 6, 1940. w. c. SELANDER ELECTRIC IGNITION DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 51, 1954 INVENTOR WALTER C. SEL ANDEP ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 6, 1940 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC IGNITION DEVICE Walter C. Sclander, Chicago, Ill.

Application October 31, 1934, Serial No. 750,818 Renewed January 8, 1940 5 Claims.

This invention relates to ignition devices and more particularly to electric spark producing means for effecting the ignition of combustible gases.

The principal object of the present invention is to substitute for the obsolescent pilot light, heretofore employed in connection with gas burners for heating and lighting purposes, an electric ignition device which is safe and economical to operate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary device which is readily interchangeable and transposable with existing types of pilot lights.

A further object of the present invention resides in the elimination of the hazard inherent in gas-burning pilot lights due to the inadvertent or accidental extinguishment of the small flame characteristic of such arrangements and the consequent escapement of gas resulting in serious explosions and/or asphyxiation.

With the device of the present invention the continual consumption of gas merely to preserve the gas flame of the pilot light is dispensed with and a resultant saving in gas consumption arises which has been found to be very substantial.

A highly desirable feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel single-action switch which is conducive to the conservation of electrical energy. With this switch an electric spark is created only for a predetermined interval of time upon the operative stroke of the switch actuating member and is ineffective upon the return stroke thereof, thus insuring the production of a spark sufficient only to effect the ignition of the emitted gas.

The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will appear from the ensuing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a cross-sectional representation of the device according to the present invention, including a schematic showing of the electrical circuit employed therewith;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a gas range with a part thereof broken away to show the electric igniting device of the present invention incorporated therein.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the single-action switch device according to the present invention.

Having reference to the drawing in which like reference characters represent similar parts throughout the several views, there is shown in cross-section in Fig. 1 a part of the frame I of a gas stove or range, having an apron portion 2 through an aperture 3 in which operates a valve actuating member 4 of the electric ignition device according to the present invention. Member 4 is provided at its extremity exterior of the frame I with a finger piece 5. Carried inside the frame is a gas supply main 6 having branches 1 (Fig. 3) supplying gas to burners 8, and superposed above the burners 8 are grids 9 carried on suitable supports ll formed integral with the frame I. It is, of course, understood that the present invention is applicable to any of the well known forms of stoves, and that the type described herein is merely taken by way of example.

Threaded into the main 6 is a coupling 12 into which, in turn, is threaded a tubing l3 which comprises the supply means for the gas igniter indicated generally as l4. The opposite end of the tubing I3 is threaded into the central or body portion l of the device M, which portion [5 is in this manner supported or carried by the tubing l3. The portion I 5 is provided with a tapped hole l6 terminating in a drilled portion I! which opens into the tubing I3. Fitted into the tapped portion 6 and disposed immediately above the drilled portion I1 is a valve seat member I 8 which is provided with a central bore l9 and a plurality of slots 2| of predetermined depth (the latter being more readily distinguishable in Fig. 2).

Operable in the bore i9 is a valve member 22 having a valve seat 23 and a stem 24, of considerably smaller diameter than the bore [9 but consistent with strength, terminating in a substantially spherical head 25 of such dimensions as to operate snugly in the bore I9. The valve member 22 is normally held seated against member l8 by a helical spring 26 housed in the drilled portion H.

The inner extremity of the valve actuating member 4 is beveled and is adapted to actuate or cam the valve member 22 downwardly against the seating action of spring 26. The valve actuating member 4 is slidably supported at its inner end by the body portion IS, a hole being drilled therefor immediately above the valve seat member l8. The member 4 is supported near its forward end in a bracket 21 clamped on the tubing 13. The valve actuating member 4 is provided in the region of the bracket 2'! with a flattened or swedged portion 28, and the aperture in portion 29 of bracket 21 through which the member 4 slidably operates is of such conformation, corresponding to the thus deformed portion of the member 4, as to prevent the member 4 from rotating. A helical spring 3| encircling the member 4 and compressed between the bracket portion 29 and the bent portion of the member 4, as indicated, tends to urge the member 4 leftwardly, a swedged portion 32 in member 4 acting to arrest this movement. The spring 3| thus normally tends to hold the valve actuating member 4 in its unactuated or inoperative position.

Screwed into the opening of the tapped portion I6 is a capmember 33 provided with a turret portion having a plurality of substantially horizontally disposed orifices 38 of restricted dimension, each of said orifices being directed toward a burner 8 individual thereto. A combustion chamber 34 is superposed above the body portion l5, having its walls properly insulated therefrom. The chamber 34 is enclosed by a base portion 35 clamped to the body portion l5 by a nut 36. and a dome or cap member 31 secured to the base portion 35. The dome 31 is provided with apertures 38 which are aligned with the orifices 30 so as not to interfere with the flames projected therefrom to the burners 8.

The single-action switch mechanism of the present invention comprises a main member 4| (Figs. 1 and 2) of substantially U-shaped construction, as viewed in Fig. 2, the flange 42 of which has depending therefrom a portion 43 which is bifurcated at its lower extremity and adapted to straddle the tubing I3, a portion 44 being bent over to provide a suitable seat to facilitate the reciprocating sliding action of member 4| upon tubing I3, as will presently appear. Flange 42 is also provided with an aperture therein to permit the passage therethrough of member 4. The member 4 is locked in operative relation with member 4| at an appropriate distance from its beveled extremity by a pair of swedged portions 45 therein. Interposed between member 4| and the body portion l5, and surrounding the member 4 is a helical compression spring 46 which functions primarily to compress the packing material 41 to prevent the escapement of gas from the chamber I6. A feature of this arrangement resides in the fact that when the gas is permitted to fill the chamber l6 upon the depression or actuation of member 4, the pressure upon.

the packing material 41 is increased due to the reaction of spring 46 in opposition to the compressing action thereon by member 4 thus tending to enhance the sealing qualities of the packing material proportionate to the amount of opening between valve seat 23 and bore iii.

The flange 48 of member 4| is provided with a laterally disposed portion 49 which has a slot therein for the purpose of carrying a switch control member 5| preferably of non-conducting material. As indicated in Fig. 4, member 5| comprises a narrow portion extending through the slot in and depending from the portion 49, and also a swelled portion disposed thereabove, which latter portion terminates in a constricted portion adapted to extend through a slot provided therefor in base portion 35. By virtue of this construction member 5| is adapted to be pivotally articulated to base 35 and rockable therein through the reciprocative action of member 4 I.

Fixed to the lower extremity of member 5| is a U-shaped piece 52 which extends laterally of member 5| and carries thereon a pivoted contact piece 53. Contact piece 53 is provided with a wall 54 which limits the clockwise rotation thereof and piece 52 is so conformedat 55, Fig. 4, as to permit contact piece 53 to rotate a predetermined amount in a counterclockwise direction, as

will presently appear, about pivot 58. Secured to contact piece 53 is a fiat spring member 51, which tends to rotate piece 53in a clockwise direction to hold wall 54 against the edge of piece 52.

Contact piece 53 is adapted to coact with contact spring 58 of a contact 59 in suchmanner as to urge said spring 58 (upon rightward reciprocation of member 4| due to manual pressure be-- ing applied to finger piece 5) against member 6| of said contact 59 to complete an electrical circuit for producing an electric spark at the turret portion of cap member 33, as will presently be described. The contact spring 58 will be held against member 6| for a predetermined period of time or until contact piece 53 has been urged past the upper extremity of spring 58, whereupon spring 58 will escape said piece 53 and will of its own resiliency return to its original position against a rigid stop plate 62, the contact piece 53 assuming the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4. Upon release of the pressure applied to finger piece 5 the actuating member 4 will be returned leftwardly under the dual action of springs 28 and 46, carrying with it, through the instrumentality of member 4|, switch control member 5|, and hence contact piece 53.

Contact piece 53 in thus returning to its leftward position will, in passing over contact spring 58, rotate a limited extent about pivot 56 against the action of spring 51, to be returned by said spring 51 to its normal clockwise position after passing over said spring 58. It is thus manifest that a single-action switch is provided whereby a spark of predetermined duration is produced upon the operative or rightward stroke only of main member 4|.

In the present embodiment contact members 58, 6| and 62 are carried upon a support 63 of non-conducting material secured to the dome 31. Suitable spacer member 64 is provided between contact spring 58 and support 63. Contact member 6| is secured to support 63 by suitable screw means 65 which also serves to secure one terminal of cable 66, the other terminal of which is secured to one end of the primary winding of a spark coil 15. A cable also extends from the secondary winding of spark coil 15 to one end of an electrode 61 of a spark plug or other suitable igniting device 68 carried in the dome member 31. The inner end of electrode 61 is adapted to be disposed above the turret portion of cap 33 and spaced a suitable distance therefrom to produce a spark gap 69.

The electrical circuit as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a transformer 1| the primary winding 12 of which is connected to a suitable source of alternating current by wires 13. The ratio between the primary winding 12 and the secondary winding 14 may be such as to give any desired secondary voltage. A spark coil or induction'coil of any suitable type is indicated diagrammatically at 15 and shown as comprising a low tension or primary coil 16, and a high tension or secondary coil 11. provided within coils 16 and 11. The induction coil 15 also comprises a pair of make-and-break contact members 8| and 82, and a condenser 83 connected across the break between said members. Contact member'8l is provided with armature means 84 adapted to be attracted by core 18 upon completion of the low tension circuit thereupon breaking contact between members 8| and 82. The low tension circuit is completed from secondary winding 14 of the transformer through wire 85, terminal 86, contact 59 (when closed), terminal 81. wire 88, low tension winding 16, contacts 8l32, and wires 89 and SI back to winding 14. The resulting sudden breaking and making of the low tension circuit induces a high tension current in the high tension circuit and thus produces an intermittent but rapidly repeated spark at the igniting means or spark gap 69. The high tension circuit extends from high tension coil Tl, through wire 92 to terminal 93 of spark plug electrode 61, thence through electrode 61, across spark gap 69, through metal parts 33 and I5 of the ignition device, through terminal 94 and thence over wire 95 back to the high tension coil 11. If direct current is desired to be utilized, then the transformer II will be dispensed with, and a battery will be substituted for the secondary winding 14. As is well known, contacts 8| and 82 will make and break with great rapidity so long as contact 59 remains closed.

General operation Briefly, the general operation of the device of the present invention is as follows: The main 6, conduit l3 and chamber H are normally filled with gas. When it is desired to light one of the burners 8 the valve therefor is opened in well known manner. and substantially simultaneously therewith the finger piece 5 is pushed inwardly to actuate the member 4 rightwardly against the tension of both springs 3| and 46 and switch control member 5| is operated through member 4| to close contact 59, establishing the aforementioned low tension circuit to cause the vibration of contacts 8| and 82 to induce a high tension current in the high tension circuit thus producing a spark across spark gap 69 for a predetermined duration, or until contact piece 53 passes over the extremity of contact spring 58.

During this interval of time the valve 22 is cammed open by member 4 and gas is permitted to escape into chamber 34 through bore I9, slots 2|, space 16 and through ports or orifices 30. The spark will instantly ignite the gas in chamber 34 and flames will project from ports 30, through apertures 38 to burners 8 igniting the gas thereat. The spark is extinguished before member 4 is actuated to its extreme rightward position, thus preventing the unnecessary prolongation of the spark. When pressure has been removed from finger piece 5' the member 4 will be returned by springs 3| and 46 to its leftward position shutting oil the gas supply to the gas igniter. According to the arrangement previously described, a spark will not be produced upon the return or leftward movement of member 4, thus introducing a highly desirable feature.

The invention herein disclosed may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In a control valve switch for a gas burner having its gas supply'controlled by said valve, a housing carried on the body of said valve, an insulating plate pendantly supported by said housing. a pair of contacts mounted on said plate, a spring-loaded operating rod slidably associated with the body of said valve, said rod having camming relation with said valve, a slidable carriage adapted to be reciprocated by said rod, and a contact operating member swingably supported on said carriage and having pivotal articulation with said housing, said operating rod acting upon reciprocation to cam open said valve and simultaneously, through said carriage, to oscillate said contact operating member to close said contacts momentarily and to return over said contacts without closing said contacts when closing said valve.

2. In a control valve switch for a gas burner having its gas supply controlled by said valve, means for simultaneously opening said valve and closing said switch comprising a supporting structure, a spring-loaded rod supported by said structure and having camming relation with said valve when'said rod is moved in its operating direction, a slidable carriage adapted to be reciprocated by said rod, a switch control member swingably supported on said carriage and having pivotal articulation with said structure, and a contact piece pivotally carried by said member, and a pair of contacts comprising a resilient portion carrying one of said contacts to normally maintain said contacts open, whereby said rod acts upon reciprocation to open said valve and simultaneously, through said carriage, to oscillate said switch control member to cause during the first part of its advancing movement said contact piece to' close said contacts momentarily and, during the final portion of said movement, to flex and pass over said resilient portion to allow said contacts to open, and upon its return movement to allow said valve to close and said contact piece to yieldingly pass over said resilient portion without closing said contacts.

3. In a control valve switch for a gas burner having its gas supply controlled by said valve, a member carried on the body of said valve, a pair of contacts insulatably supported by said member, a spring loaded operating rod slidably associated with the body of said valve, said rod having camming relation with said valve, a carriage adapted to be reciprocated by said rod, and a contact operating means swingably supported on said carriage and having pivotal articulation with said member, said operating rod acting upon reciprocation to cam open said valve and simultaneously, through said carriage, to oscillate said contact operating means to close said contacts momentarily and to return over said contact without closing said contacts when closing said valve.

4. In combination, a control valve, a switch mechanism comprising a member carried on the body of said valve, a pair of contacts insulatably supported by said member, a spring loaded operating rod slidably associated with said valve, said rod having camming relation with said valve, a carrier adapted to be reciprocated by said rod, and a contact operating means swingably supported on said carrier and having pivotal articulation with said member, and means whereby said operating rod acts upon reciprocation to cam open said valve and simultaneously, through said carriage and said contact operating means, to close said contacts momentarily and to return over said contacts without closing said contacts when closing said valve.

5. In combination, a control valve, a switch mechanism comprising a member carried on the body of said valve, contact means insulatably supported by said member, a spring actuated rod slidably associated with said valve, said rod havsimultaneously, through said carriage and said contact operating means, to close said contacts momentarily and to return over said contacts without closing said contacts when closing said valve.

WALTER c. SELANDER. 

